Trolley-line support



W. E. RICHARDS. TROLLEY LINE SUPPORT. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I, 1920.

PatentedApr.5,1921.

INENTVURY ATTEIRNEY nNrrEo 5r" WILLIAM E. nronnnns, or 'roLnno, 'oHIo.

. TROLLEY-LINE SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

Application filed February 7, "1920. Serial No. 357,061.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. RroHAnDs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Toledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Trolley-Line Supports, of which the following is a speclfica tion.

This invention relates to line take up means between relatively movable sustaining points.

This invention has utility when incorporated in overhead trolley systems for lift bridges.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view 1n s de elevation of an embodiment of the invention in a bascule type of rolling lift brid e 5.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the of the bridge lift of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary deta1l view of the automatic slack take-up trolley pole mounting;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of trolley connection to one of the poles; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V'V Fig. 4:. Brldge approach or way 1 extending to pier 2 has adjacent bridge lift 3 and on the approach a fixed trolley pole a. to which extends from the landward side a trolley wire or line 5 herein shown as a solid copper wire usual in street railway work. Over this lift 3 extend rails 6 of electric street railway so that cars may travel, with trolleys from the car extending to overhead trolley wire.

Lift bridges of the fixed pivot type as well as the rolling lift type in upward movement of the free end would tend to permit a grounding or dragging of a trolley line against the floor of the bridge as the lift ascended. Such action, if in the nature of a ground, would be disastrous to the service while furthermore it is a rubbing or abrading of the wire which is objectionable in street railway trolley service.

Herein applicant has, by the expedlent of the invention herein set forth, overcome such difliculties automatically in an eflicient manner with reliable details of construction holding up in the arduous service regardless of.weather or operation'conditions. To this end near the extreme or lift end portion of the lift 3 there is provided apair of bearings 7 for trunnions 8 fixed with collar 9 on line pole 10. Below the deck of the bridgelift 3 this pole 10 has counterweight 11 swingfree end able against stop 12 when the pole 10 is vertical. This precludes any swinging of the pole 10 toward the pole 4 so that when the lift 3 is down there may be noslack in the llne or trolley'wire between poles 4 and 10. The rocking of this pole 10 is limited 7 to one direction away fromythe stop 12 in order that this pole 10 may approximate vertical positionwhen the lift 3 is inclined.

As a shield for-traffic. conditions as well as possible disturbance from weather there is provided a housing or hood 13 carried by the pole lOabove thecollar '9 which hood 13 works under hood 14-. fast with the lift bridge 3, this latter hood 14 having a slot 15 the counterweight or means may beefi'ective for rocking apole relatively to the bridge for changing the distance between the line engaging portions'of the poles, thereby re- 7 ducing the slack between said poles to an extent that the trolley wire may not swing to ground in the normal operation of the bridge.

' As herein disclosed this is effected with solid trolley wire 20 as the hinged connected flexible member between the two relatively movable poles t and 10. This provides a substantial structure which in continued operation even in most adverse weather conditions is reliable in responding to bridge operation and traflic conditions. 7 What is claimed and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Patent is V 1. An overhead line, relatively movable supports for maintaining said line in normal line position and during'th'e full range of travel from normal position, one of said supports in its movement having means reducing the distance between the line engaging portions of said supports.

2. An overhead trolley line, a fixed support, a relatively movable support, and

means for swinging the top of the movable I 6. A lift bridge trolley support including 20 support away from the fixed support during travel of the movable support.

3. A bridge approach, a lift bridgei to which the approach extends, an electric rail- Way track thereover, a trolley line, a trolley pole at the bridge approach, and a trolley pole on the bridge lift, said line being directly connected to said poles, one of said poles being rockable during lifting of the bridge to reduce the slack in the line between said poles.

4. A bridge lift, a trolley line, a trolley support clear of the bridge lift, a trolley .support near the free end of the bridge lift,

and" hinged connection between said supports and the line.

5. A lift bridge trolley support including a counterweighted tiltable pole.

a pole having trunnion bearing means, a

engaging means above said bearing means.

I counterweight below said means, and trolley 7. A lift bridge trolley support including j a counterweighted tiltable pole, and stop means precluding tilt of the pole in one (11- rection. 7 y g 8. A lift bridgetrolley support including a tiltable pole, a trolley line sagging from the supporting pole in bridge lifting, and a hinge connection between the line and pole. 9. A lift bridge trolley support including a member swingable as to the'bridge in bridge movement, a trolley line,'and a hinge connection between the line and member.

In witness whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM E. RICHARDS. 

